REA History

History of the Religious Education Association

The Religious Education Association (REA) was founded in 1903 by William Raney Harper, the first President of the University of Chicago. That year, hundreds of outstanding religious and educational leaders from the United States and Canada converged on Chicago for the first convention, which featured speakers such as John Dewey and George Albert Coe. This was the first of many meetings that helped shape the objectives and strategies of the REA.

Throughout its century-long existence, REA has supported research into moral and religious development in many ways, including conferences, workshops, and in-depth studies. This support, with its emphasis on high quality publications, gives REA a leading role in the field.

REA is rich with diversity; its membership includes those from the Baha'i, Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Jewish, Muslim, Protestant and other traditions involved in all aspects of religious education.

REA Historical Dateline

1903 - REA founded in Chicago
1906 - REA Journal first published
1920s - REA helps to launched "Character and Education Inquiry" by Hugh Hartshorne and Mark May
1934 - Character first published
1950s - REA Roundtables on religious and higher education
1950s-1960s - REA Five-Step research program, funded by the Lilly Endowment results in publication of Research on Religious Development, edited by Merton Strommen
1978 - REA celebrates 75th anniversary and commissions the book A History of the Religious Education Association.
1980 - Faith Development in the Adult Life Cycle initiated
2003 - Celebration of REA's 100th anniversary

For additional information:

Visit the Historical Documents page celebrating 100 years of the REA
Visit the official Archives of the Religious Education Association at Yale University